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Wednesday, March 1, 2017

#SOL17: On weather and normal 1/31

2017 is the tenth year of the Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers, but it is my first time participating. The goal is to write and post a "slice of life" story every day during the month of March. (I will still be posting book reviews but a little less frequently.)

Many classrooms are also participating in the Classroom Slice of Life Story Challenge. My seventh graders will be joining in a very limited form (writing 10 posts over the 10 class periods we have after March 7th when our previous unit wraps up). We'd love to connect with other middle schoolers via Kidblog (drop me a line at katie at thelogonauts.com to connect).

Slice of Life: normalizing

On my drive to work this morning, the snow was falling in fat, slowly drifting flakes that looked like someone manufactured them for a movie. Watching them through our classroom window, I remarked to a student that it looked like an ideal day to run around trying to catch snowflakes on your tongue, since there were big enough to taste. (I live in Wisconsin, so this scene is one that I expect to play out during this time, the awkward transition from February into March.)

But yesterday, it rained. Actually, it poured. Hard. Thunder, lighting, and the whole shebang for a good chunk of the evening. The noise was enough to startle the cats and drown out the television.

Last Friday we had an ice storm severe enough to bring down a fifteen-foot long limb from one of the trees in our yard (which, miraculously, only took out one picket in the fence on its way down).

And less than a week ago, it hit 68°F. In February. In Wisconsin. I spent the afternoon out on my porch, stretched out with a good book (The Sun is Also a Star, review coming soon). It felt amazing, and yet ...

Bright sunshine and shorts in Wisconsin (in February) isn't normal. It isn't what I've come to expect from decades of living here or from years of snow-filled February birthday parties. I feel a bit like the frog looking around him and discovering that the pot he's in is quickly going to boil. A bit like Cassandra staring out at the people walking by in shorts, no longer questioning the reality that is before them.

Normal is no longer normal. It's not just the weather, it's not just the politics, it's everything and everywhere. The world is shifting under our feet, and it seems to be coming harder and harder to know where we were and where we're going.

This slice has gotten a bit beyond me and my own life and stories, but one of the main things I hope to capture during the course of this month is a sense of my current "normal." To grab and capture what is slipping by before it changes and morphs into something different.

19 comments:

You're brave out reading in 68 degree weather! I'm in California, and I still think if 68 as cold. It seems our lives are constantly in shift, aren't they? Hoping your slicing will help you reflect on how you are defining "normal" for youself right now.

I'm in Northeast Colorado -- think Great Plains. As a determined but easily winded senior walker, I check the weather first thing to plan days walk or walks. Light snow, gray day yesterday. Today it's sunny here too but was 27° when I checked at 7 am. Now, going on 11 am, it's 41° (feels like 31°), still sunny and even windier.

I like the way you use weather literally and figuratively, as both anchor and organizing metaphor. I've been thinking about a places along the way theme.

Katie, welcome to slicing! You will enjoy this adventure and I think finding stories will help you capture your current normal. That's why I enjoy the writing. It's an amazing journey ... and yes, many slices about the changing weather! (I live in the NW suburbs of Chicago ... and we have had the same strange, up and down weather too!)~Michelle

I live in Wisconsin too! I'm in the Kenosha area, how about you? That was some storm we had last night and then today's snowflakes are ridiculously large. You are right -- there is no such thing as 'normal' any more, especially when it comes to the weather.. I'm looking forward to reading more about your daily happenings throughout March. Welcome to the SOL!

Katie, this is a lovely post. I was enchanted, finding myself daydreaming of great weather extremes in the Midwest. Three years ago I left northwest Iowa and moved to Bahrain. The weather was in the mid 70's today.

You were speaking for me about new normals. I still have hope for our world, but it is shifting. I pray there are good and gracious resolutions.

We have had a wet, soggy, slushy winter in Estonia. A far cry from the winter wonderland of years ago. I'm sure your students love snow as much as mine. Coming from a warm climate, I'm really surprised how weather can affect ones mood. You can just feel the energy when spring arrives here, as everything comes alive. Your post has prompted me to think about what exactly is 'normal' and how its definition is changing. Thanks!

I look forward to reading about your normal too, Leah! I agree with you about the power and joy of spring (though teaching middle school this year, I wish they wouldn't feel spring fever quite so early!).

Our weather certainly isn't normal either, Katie. My lilies are way up, amid other green shoots. We often have heavy snow in March. Today is colder, but sunny. Tomorrow the warm returns. You're right about all things expected, not so much our usual lately. Welcome to SOLC!

I absolutely know what you mean! We live in Ohio and we are experiencing the same weather! Our youngest daughters birthday is February 1st and many family birthday outings and parties have been postponed due to ice, snow and cold! this year, when we could have had a picnic for her birthday, she is living in Alabama at Auburn University! LOLMy post today is also about our ever-changing new normal in our family!

Glad you're slicing this year! I still can't quite believe I decided to do it today--after being determined yesterday that I was NOT doing it! I'm in South Dakota, and we hit a record breaking 72 last week and THEN had a snowstorm that canceled school for the day.

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Logo / naut: word sailor. Logonauts celebrate the power of words and language. Join us on this journey through words, books, and geography in elementary and middle school. Read more in the About Me page.

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